Special Holiday Edition Everything You Need to Start the New Year Right!

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LIFE IN THE BIG CITY

Senator Simcha Felder Addresses
the Importance of Bike Safety

Senator Simcha Felder visited local day camps on August 18th to discuss the importance of wearing helmets while bicycling. The visits were part of the Senator’s “Wear a Helmet” Campaign, which was launched together with BINA Stroke and Brain Injury Assistance, in response to reports that Brooklyn’s 66th Police Precinct is the second most dangerous precinct in New York City
for cyclists.

“I was excited to talk to the children personally about helmet safety, and to hand out colorful activity books to them,” said Senator Felder. “It was so refreshing to be able to discuss the importance of wearing a helmet in a way that was enjoyable and educational.”

The activity books were co-sponsored by BINA, which provides guidance and assistance to survivors of stroke and brain injury, many of them children and young adults, and to their families, whose lives have been unexpectedly shattered by a brain injury. BINA addresses every need with rehabilitation referrals and discharge planning, case management, crisis intervention, support and education, allowing brain injury survivors to achieve every possible goal throughout the difficult journey to recovery.

Beginning Sunday, August 30th, and until Friday, September 4th, any child or teenager wearing a helmet while riding a bike may pick up a coupon for a free Klein’s ice cream or ices from the following participating neighborhood toy stores: Toys 4 You at 4510 13th Ave, Linicks at 4811 13th Ave, Double Play at 4115 14th Ave, Tree House at 5210 16th Ave, Toys 2 Discover at 5504 18th Ave, and Totally Toys at 1435 Coney Island Ave.

The coupons can then be redeemed at the Safety Sunday Extravaganza on Sunday, September 6th from 1-4pm at the Boro Park Ice Cream House, 2 Church Avenue. The event will feature entertainment and special appearances by the New York Police Department, the Fire Department, Hatzolah, Shomrim, and others. Children will be treated to balloons and a magician along with clowns and free prizes.

For a free copy of the activity book for your child, contact Senator Felder’s office at 718-253-2015.

Tallest Tower in New York City
Outside of Manhattan to Go Up in Queens

The image of the 800-plus-foot tall luxury condo at 29-37
41st Avenue in Long Island City reveals a glimmering tower in the sky, rivaling any of Manhattan’s “supertall” buildings, the New York Post reported.

Once completed in 2019, the 800-unit luxury condo, Queens Plaza Park, will be the tallest tower in New York City outside
of Manhattan.

The building will also incorporate Queens history, by wrapping itself around the landmarked Clock Tower, built in 1927.

The developers, Property Markets Group and the Hakim Organization, snagged air and development rights and fee parcels from the MTA for $56 million in June.

In return, they’ll build a public open space and commit to maintain it. They’ll also work on expanding subway access at the Queens Plaza station in Long Island City. Although none of its units will be affordable, the developers are expected to receive tax breaks to build.

Records show the developers have submitted plans to the Department of Buildings to build a 772-square-foot, 70-story building - but they are expected to amend the project to build much higher. The project is not within the direct flight path approach to LaGuardia Airport and is not restricted by airport zoning height limits, city sources said. But it will have to provide aircraft safety/warning lights above its water tanks or other obstructions on its roof.

The tower will likely fit in a category called “supertall,” defined as any tower 800 feet tall or higher. There are currently at least
16 “supertalls” that have broken ground in New York City.

LaGuardia Airport to be Completely Rebuilt

LaGuardia Airport is going to be completely torn down and rebuilt, the New York Post reports. The plan calls for a single, sleek new building as part of a $4 billion project aimed at drastically reducing flight
delays and getting the airport into the 21st century, officials announced Monday.

The extreme makeover will also add badly-needed AirTrain and high-speed ferry service to the overcrowded, delay-riddled gateway to the Big Apple.

Among the highlights:

• A new, unified terminal that will be 600 feet closer to the Grand Central Parkway, providing 240 percent more space for runways and flight operations.

• High-speed ferry service that will have boats docking at the existing Marine Terminal.

• A state-of-the-art, post-9/11 security system that will be three times as large as the current operation, slashing wait times.

• The reconfiguration of nearby roads to improve access for passengers and reduce traffic.

• A new Central Hall with increased space for high-end amenities including retail shops and a 200-room boutique hotel.

• Creation of 8,000 construction jobs and 18,000 permanent jobs both at the airport and in businesses that service the airport.

The stunning new airport will be paid for by a private-public partnership, with the Port Authority kicking in roughly 50 percent.

Amazingly, nearly as many planes will be able to fly in and out of the airport during construction as there are now, according to Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.